We continue our series on our private instruction faculty with our on-screen teaching artist. Students interested in breaking into film and voice-over work should take notice of Mr. Andy Clemence, who has been a union actor on stage and screen for over three decades. Now is a great time to get to know a little more about him, and then book some time in the private studio for this truly unique one-on-one educational experience.

Introducing On-Screen Acting Coach Andy Clemence!

Who do you teach in the studio? I teach private acting for film, TV and theatre to mostly kids from ages 10 to 17 as well as adults. This includes: audition technique, scene study, monologue preparation, audition taping, and tips and insights about the acting industry.

What do you do outside of the private studio? Outside of teaching, I’ve been a professional union actor for film, TV, theatre, and voice-over in DC, Los Angeles, and New York for over 35 years. I’m also a musician and am writing a musical about an infamous safe-cracker based on an O’Henry short story. I also do training for Federal Law Enforcement officers and I get handcuffed and shot all the time. FUN!!

What’s your favorite Broadway show and why? Hands down, my favorite Broadway show is CHESS. Although I should say the original London production of it, because the Broadway version was completely different and closed very quickly. I love it becasue the score has the most amazing symphonic/rock music with lyrics by Tim Rice, who I worked with personally when I directed the “London version” of the show in Virginia.

What’s your favorite thing about teaching private voice? Favorite thing about teaching private lessons is that it’s all about that student! They get the whole hour to themselves and don’t have to share the time with anyone else. I love to watch a student go from stagey, artificial performance to an absolutely real and natural one that is true to the actor’s own essence.

How long have you been teaching? I’ve been teaching for about 3 years. I also teach classes in “Acting” and “Audition Self-Taping” in DC.

Want to learn more about our Private Instruction Program? All of the information you need can be found here. We hope to see you soon in the studio!

Teachers and students said “goodbye” to each other today and “hello” to Summer! Now that Summer is officially in full swing at Drama Learning Center, we wanted to introduce you to some of our summer camp staff. In this first installment, we’ll introduce you to a handful of the faces you’ll encounter at our summer drama camps.

Lauren Alberg

What’s your favorite thing about summer?I love having all my friends home from college so we can hang out and catch up!What camp are you most excited about and why?Cosplay Creations because I cosplay with my friends, and I’m excited to help other people with the skills I’ve learned over the years.What’s your favorite DLC or onstage memory?My favorite onstage memory was opening night of my first TYA [DLC’s professional training program] show– the moment before I went onstage.What’s your weirdest special skill or secret talent?I’m very good at binge-watching TV shows. I can finish entire series in just a few days.

Carrie Loughry

What’s your favorite thing about summer?Pool time, sleeping in, and of course, DLC camp!What camp are you most excited about and why?Pop Stars Sing! It’s so much fun to just sing and dance for the whole week.What’s your favorite DLC memory?Glee Camp several years ago was one of my favorite camps. Kids were so awesome and the staff was a great team! [Editor’s Note: as a part of the team for that Glee camp, I would concur. That was a memorable week of summer camp!]What’s a secret talent no one knows about?It’s a secret!

Andrew Lyon

What’s your favorite thing about summer?Spending time with friends and family.What camp are you the most excited about and why?All of them? I’m [also] very excited for [TYA Summer Musical Theatre Intensive’s production] Junie B. Jones.What was your favorite DLC memory?The Addams Family with TYA Junior Company. It was the breakthrough for my love of theatre.What’s the weirdest special skill on your résumé OR secret talent?I do lots of impressions and voices, and I sketch and draw in my spare time.

Samantha MarinoWhat’s your favorite thing about summer?The weather, fun, sun, the beach, relaxing, and doing what I like to do.What camp are you the most excited about and why?Best of Broadway because I LOVE Broadway and talking/singing about it.What’s your favorite onstage memory?I have two! Playing multiple roles in Grease and directing one of my favorites: The Grunch.

Dustin Merrell

What’s your favorite thing about summer?Evenings and weekends at home, air conditioning, cookouts, and camp (duh!).What camp are you most excited about and why?Legally Blonde — because it’s going to be so much fun! I’m looking forward to being at Howard High School again.What’s your favorite DLC or camp memory?I have two! 1. The day we opened our new voice studio! 2. When my campers dressed up as me for spirit week.What’s the weirdest special skill on your résumé or secret talent?

AJ WhittenbergerWhat’s your favorite thing about summer?The beach and the warm weather (boring, I know)!What camp are you most excited about and why?Honestly, all of them.What’s your favorite DLC or onstage memory?I have a few! Johnny Guitar (2006), High School Musical (2007), and Footloose (2009).What’s a secret talent no one knows about?[Editor’s Note: Mr. AJ left this one blank, so we’ll have to share a not-so-secret talent with you all– he’s an awesome dancer!]

Amy WilliamsonWhat’s your favorite thing about summer?Spending time with friends and family, going on adventures, and swimming.What camp are you most excited about and why?I’m most excited for Les Mis because it was my last show with TYA, and it holds a special place in my heart.What’s your favorite camp or DLC or onstage memory?Some of my favorite DLC memories came from participating in DLC summer camps as a student. One of the most memorable being Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2010.What’s the weirdest special skill on your résumé or secret talent no one knows about?I just rescued a whole bunch of tadples from my pool when I was opening it up for the season, so let’s go with “Tadpole Rescue Specialist.”

We hope you enjoyed learning about some of our summer teaching artists as much as we did. There are still a few spots in our three camps that begin next week: Broadway Babies – PJ Masks, Trolls Takeover, and Musical Theatre Masterclass. It’s not too late to join in on the summer fun. We can’t wait to see you this summer for what promises to be DLC’s best summer ever!

We LOVE this quote from Benj Pasek, who is half of the hit songwriting duo Pasek and Paul. They were interviewed on their approach to the development of Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach a few years ago by Playbill’s Michael Gioia.

Check out the rest of the interview here. Pasek and Paul have gone on to become celebrated composers and lyricists for their work on A Christmas Story and Dogfight. This year alone, they’ve won an Oscar for Best Original Song, “City of Stars,” from the movie musical La La Land and six Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Scorefor Dear Evan Hansen.

To help you get to know some of the faces behind Drama Learning Center, we’ve been asking them a quick question… and we’re sharing teh answers with you! Do you have a question you want DLC teaching artists to answer? Drop your question in the comments and you might see answers in a future post!

This week, we asked: If you had to quit theatre but wanted to stay involved in the arts, which medium would you choose?

We could not have guessed that these were the answers we were going to get, but we thought they were fascinating! Check them out below.

Mr. Seth Fallon: “While I never plan to ‘quit’ theatre, I would have to say that returning to a choral ensemble would be my next step. Whether it be in the form of a church choir or an established choral arts society, I would love to be able to return to my roots and get back to those Renaissance james.” Mr. Sethhas served as a stage manager, director, assistant director, and house manager at DLC for years. A recent graduate of Stevenson University, he is currently working as a nurse, but stays active at DLC teaching workshops and hosting birthday parties.

Ms. Megan Henderson:“I would be a visual artist! Specifically painting. I grew up taking art classes, and worked with charcoal pastels, watercolor, and oil paint. I always loved to draw. I submitted for a few school art shows growing up and won a few awards. It’s something I’ve wanted to get back into for a while!” Ms. Megan is the HR Coordinator at Drama Learning Center and directs TYA Junior Company productions.

Ms. Dana Fleischer: “I think I would try to be an events coordinator, specifically for weddings. The [stage manager] in me would need to be micromanaging something!” Ms. Dana is DLC’s Office Manager.

Ms. Debbie Leonard:“I can’t imagine but I would like to write grants to raise money to bring musical theatre or music to areas where they have none, or where it is very limited. Maybe I could be a program coordinator.” Ms. Debbie is one of DLC’s longest-serving teaching artists. She teaches during the school year on Wednesday and Friday evenings.

Ms. Angel McGrath: “There is no life without theatre. If I can’t be on the stage or directing people on the stage, I’d have to be singing somewhere– church, choir, street corner. I’d also consider going back to deejaying and helping to coordinate weddings.” Ms. Angel is an assistant director for our schoolyear production classes.

Ms. Janine Sunday: “I would probably want to keep teaching a few voice students or do the occasional master class. Then, once a year on [Ms. Stephanie, owner and artistic director of DLC]’s birthday, I would sing ‘Meadowlark’… the whole song.” Ms. Janine is DLC’s Production Manager, as well as a gifted educator and performer. She keeps a private voice studio at Drama Learning Center as well. She does not actually know how to sing “Meadowlark,” but she keeps threatening to add it to her repertoire.

Carrie Loughry: “If I had to quit theatre (but, why?), I would continue working in music education as I do now. I do love teaching, both theatre and music, so it would be an easy decision. However, working in theatre allows me a more varied creative outlet than teaching, so I would likely find some sort of crafting to keep creating art with my hands. I like many types of crafts, and my niece and I create new projects every summer!” Ms. Carrie has been teaching at Drama Learning Center for generations. She also serves as a production manager and designer for many of our productions throughout the year.

And just like that, another installment of Quick Questions with DLC Teaching Artists has come to a close. Do you have a burning question you want our teaching artists to answer? Don’t forget to drop it in the comments, and you might see the answers in this space some time soon.

Fall Production Classes start in just a couple of short weeks. Some classes are already full. Make sure you register today to get in your choice of Broadway Babies, Beginning Acting, or Production Classes of Disney’s The Lion King, Jr.

To help you get to know some of the faces behind Drama Learning Center, we’re going to ask them a quick question once a week and share the answers with you. Do you have a question you want DLC teaching artists to answer? Drop your question in the comments and you might see answers in a future post!

This week, we asked: What is the first show you ever saw? What did you think about it?

Now, we know that it’s technically TWO questions, but we got some very interesting responses. Check them out!

Ms. Sarah Pencheff: “The very first would have either been something that my mother was in, or one of the high school musicals that she choreographed. I would have been super young, like 3 or 4, so I don’t actually remember… but I’m sure I loved it. The first professional production I remember seeing was an opera of Hansel and Gretel when I was about 6. I liked it, but still ran around the house making fun of the overly dramatic singing stle for a few days afterward. “HAN-sooooollllll…..” Ms. Sarah just completed her second summer leading our Cosplay Creations camp.

Ms. Debbie Leonard: “I saw Godspell at a local high school, and I was in awe.” Ms. Debbie teaches camp all summer long and Wednesday and Friday Production classes during the school year. She has taught at DLC for longer than any other teaching artist currently on our roster.

Ms. Tess Owen: “Les Misérables! First professional show when it was touring and at the Hippodrome a long, long time ago. I liked it, but was confused since I was very young.” Ms. Tess is an assistant music director with a specialty in music. She has worked alongside Ms. Debbie for production classes.

Ms. Stephanie Williams: “Dinosaur Rock or Sesame Street Live! I still can remember some of the songs and recall acting them out with my toys at home. I suppose my parents should have known then that they were destined to have a theatre kid. At the very least, they should have known when they had to institute the family rule, ‘No Singing At the Dinner Table.'” Ms. Stephanie is the owner and artistic director of Drama Learning Center. She directs productions for TYA Professional Training Program’s Senior Company and is responsible for all of the programming done through DLC onsite and offsite.

Ms. Melody Easton: “The first show I saw was Cinderella at the local high school, the one I eventually ended up attending. I was obsessed and I remember not even moving during the performance because I didn’t want to miss anything.” Ms. Melody previously served as DLC’s Office Manager and Director of Saturday Class. You can still find her around working on special projects and events from time to time.

Ms. Addie Sutter: “When I was five, I saw my cousin Jen as Marian the Librarian in The Music Man. It was the best thing ever. I watched the movie a hundred times after that and learned all of the songs.” Ms. Addie taught at DLC for many years. She has more recently been seen performing onstage with Red Branch Theatre Company, notably as the title role in Dear Edwina.

Ms. Megan Henderson: “I honestly don’t remember my first show, but the one that suck with me was Joseph… because my family loved it. I still remember watching the Donny Osmond version on VHS because my mom loved him so much.” Ms. Megan serves as the HR Coordinator at DLC. She also is a longtime teaching artist and directs TYA Professional Training Program’s Junior Company productions.

Well, there you have it– our first installment of Quick Questions with DLC Teaching Artists! Do you have a burning question you want our teaching artists to answer? Don’t forget to drop it in the comments, and you might see the answers in this space some time soon.

“You can’t tell from this distance but many of the kids, even though they’d never met before, were crying as they took their final bows. In 4 short weeks, you created a family.”– Andrea D.“I can’t say enough how blown away I was by the incredible talent. It’s been a great experience for my daughter. Thank you! She will miss the cast for sure!”– Margaret O.“Even though my daughter was one of the youngest she said she always felt included by the older kids who looked out for them. This was a hugely ambitious project and it ended up being amazing! Thank you for taking this on and making such a caring environment for all the kids! This is why I love theatre, and now my daughter does too!”– Alexia C.“This was an awesome experience!! The older kids were great with my daughter who was one of the youngest in the cast. I truly appreciate the supportive and enriching environment that DLC created for this show.”– Beth H.“Not only was the show impressive, the experience was wonderful. My daughter and friends sobbed after the last performance. They’ve never been as close as a cast and they are already committed to return next summer.”– Andrea D.